| | Minnie Riperton Come To My Garden CD Minnie Riperton Discography of CDs
 (6 Customer Reviews)
1969's COME TO MY GARDEN is Minnie Riperton's debut solo album, recorded after her tenure with the psychedelic soul outfit Rotary Connection but still produced and co-written by that group's leader, Charles Stephney. The heavy rock aspect of that band is absent here, replaced by lush orchestrations and a jazzy soft-pop feel that complements Riperton's magnificently expressive, multi-octave voice beautifully. The songs, mostly by Riperton and husband Richard Rudolph, are mostly minor-key ballads, with alternately sorrowful and poetic lyrics. The singer/songwritery results recall early albums by Roberta Flack as well as the contemporary work by Riperton's future employer/mentor Stevie Wonder, but the album was a couple of years ahead of its time and so was not a commercial success. Regardless, it's a quiet gem.
Minnie Riperton's solo debut is in many respects her finest hour -- devoid of the overly syrupy production that hampers her later work, Come to My Garden instead couches her miraculous voice in the elegant arrangements of the great Charles Stepney, striking a perfect balance between romantic melodrama and sensual nuance. Call Stepney's singular approach "chamber soul" -- the nimble melodies and insistent grooves swell with orchestral flourishes, while the jazz-inspired rhythms (courtesy of Ramsey Lewis' group) at times evoke Van Morrison's masterpiece Astral Weeks. Stepney creates the ideal backdrop for Riperton's soaring vocals, which reveal a subtlety and restraint absent from the glass-shattering bombast of her subsequent performances -- the opening "Les Fleurs" (covered decades later by 4Hero) crystallizes the entire record, embracing both intimacy and majesty to haunting effect. ~ Jason Ankeny
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Debut Album.1st Time On CD.W/ Ramsey Lewis Trio & P.Upchurch
Recorded at Ter Mar Studios, Chicago, Illinois on November 24-26, 1969. Originally released on GRT (30001). Includes liner notes by Bill Dahl.
Personnel: Minnie Riperton (background vocals); Kitti Hayward, Elsa Harris (background vocals).
Audio Remasterer: Nick Watson.
Liner Note Authors: Dean Rudland; Bill Dahl.
Recording information: Ter Mar Studios, Chicago, IL (11/24/1969-11/26/1969).
Arranger: Charles Stepney.
Personnel includes: Minnie Riperton (vocals); Phil Upchurch (guitar); Ramsey Lewis (piano); Cleaveland Eaton (bass); Maurice White (drums); Kitty Hayward, Elsa Harris (background vocals).
Q (12/02, p.130) - 4 out of 5 - "...It's as close to the introspective folk of Nick Drake's Bryter Layter as to any soul siblings....Song after song of unremitting, almost claustrophobic beauty..."
Q (12/02, p.130) - 4 out of 5 - "...It's as close to the introspective folk of Nick Drake's Bryter Layter as to any soul siblings....Song after song of unremitting, almost claustrophobic beauty..."
Uncut (11/02, pp.140-41) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Pure, fragile and precious..."
Uncut (11/02, pp.140-41) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Pure, fragile and precious..."
Mojo (Publisher) (12/02, p.130) - "...Minnie delivers 10 effusive spirituals that mix emotive gospel with rock guitar..."
Mojo (Publisher) (12/02, p.130) - "...Minnie delivers 10 effusive spirituals that mix emotive gospel with rock guitar..." Minnie Riperton Come To My Garden Songs Come To My Garden Music Review Average Rating: (4.3 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews Always loved this title
An unusually beautiful C.D. I always loved the record,so quite naturally,I love the c.d. too.
Submitted by wunowun2000 (Bear,Delaware) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
Her Best Work!
I remember when she left the Rotary Connection and this was her first solo album. Its the best album ever! I've been searching for the record because somebody took mine and went online and found the CD! This will be the best present I'll give to myself this Christmas!
Its so sad that her life was so short but her music and voice live on!
Submitted by sharon.leaks (Atlanta, Georgia)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Lovin' Minnie is easy 'cause she's beautiful!!
Even before "Lovin' You" Minnie Riperton had very colorful music. This album makes me want to come to Minnie's garden and feel the colors that she brings
Submitted by a reviewer (Fairfaz, CA, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  Big disappointment
Fans of this classic album by Minnie Riperton will unfortunately still have to wait for a decent release. I don't know what source Varese Sarabande used, but there are pops and clicks throughout this recording. Whereas the sound quality it certainly improved over the horrendous import versions (beware especially the one with the windmill on the cover), I don't see why they couldn't have used a clean-up program to remove much of this vinyl noise or whatever it is. And the liner notes even say "digitally remastered." Beware!!!
Submitted by a reviewer (Nashville, TN, USA)
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MINNIE RIPERTON'S PERFECT ALBUM
For many fans of Minnie Riperton who already have the LP version of COME TO MY GARDEN, I'm sure that I must be one of the last ones to finally get this on CD. How good is this album? Well, let's just say that over the years I have continued to keep my LP turntable in good working condition mainly because of two albums that I had not gotten on CD yet: both of them involved Minnie Riperton. One of the albums is from the group Rotary Connection, their early release HEY LOVE;the other is COME TO MY GARDEN, with Minnie singing as a solo artist. All of the songs on this CD sound as good or even better than the best LP version, but with the convenience of a CD, so now I can listen to it in the car! If you like soulful, jazzy, reflective and romantic music, with lush orchestration (I think both albums were arranged expertly by Charles Stepney, and
some of the singers I believe also were friends of either he or Minnie, but of course that would make sense!)and haven't heard some of these early compositions by
Ms. Riperton, you will be delighted. My next acquisition must include the Hey Love CD, before my turntable joins the 'heavenly choir'.(p.s.- Try to get this now from CD universe --you will not beat the price!)
Submitted by a reviewer (Aurora, IL)
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